I don’t honestly know about architecture. I just know about Cal Poly because my son is finishing his engineering degree there and I know an architect that got his degree from there.
Whatever you do, visit. Don’t make the same mistake twice.
Cal Poly’s knock is that it is remote on the central coast. Students from the big city like LA can feel like there’s “nothing to do.” Of course there’s actually lots to do, but there isn’t the culture or restaurants of the city. No city can compete with NYC or LA when it comes to that. Nor is there the crime or traffic. It’s campus is not amoebic like UCBs. You can get to the bay in 4h or LA in 2h. Hiking and the beach are out the back door.
Ithaca is also isolated. It’s knock is that it gets cold, REALLY cold, and for some, can be a grind. It’s 4h from the city.